Shop owner
The title of this article is conjectural; an official name for the article's subject has not been found, so it has been given a fitting title by the editors. If an official name is found, then the article should be moved to its appropriate title.
- “Here's a smile for you!”
- —Item Shopkeeper, Wario Land 4
Item Shopkeeper is the keeper of the Item Shop in the Game Boy Advance game Wario Land 4. She takes on an appearance that is closely related to Mr. Game & Watch, having a similar figure and movement. It is believed that the basic shape and idea of this character was slightly redesigned and used in Super Smash Bros. Melee, which features the first official appearance of Mr. Game & Watch. However, the main difference between the two cameos is the character has eyes in Wario Land 4. Her use in the game is to sell Wario items, which can be purchased with Frog Medals. These items can be used to assist Wario in defeating a boss by inflicting damage at the battle's beginning.
Item Shopkeeper is actually a being that is transformed from a Black Cat, which is actually Princess Shokora trapped in a feline's body. When Wario travels to the Golden Pyramid after hearing a rumour of Legendary Treasure, he spots the Black Cat at the entrance. He sees the Cat again on many occasions, such as on the main map and in the corridor before a boss battle. When Wario enters this corridor, the Black Cat can be seen running into the Item Shop up ahead. However, if Wario enters the shop, the only other being there apart from himself is the Shopkeeper. When an item is purchased, the shopkeeper will go with Wario to the boss room. There, she will use the purchased item against the targeted boss. Once the damage has been dealt, she will exit the room, leaving Wario to challenge a slightly weaker boss. For some items, the shopkeeper will even transform into various creatures to inflict damage. This applies to the Black Dog, Big Fist, Large Lips and Black Dragon.
The Item Shopkeeper also appears in Super Mario-Kun. Unlike in the game, she lacks a nose. She uses the Large Lips move to help Wario defeat Aerodent.
Gallery
- WL4-MGW.PNG
Item Shopkeeper sprite - WL4-Smile.PNG
Item Shopkeeper giving a Smile to the player - WL4-PG&W Unused.PNG
Unused sprite of Item Shopkeeper 
Item Shop logo 
Item Shopkeeper video clip in the Sound Room 
Item Shopkeeper video clip in the Sound Room - Smile4u.PNG
Item Shopkeeper in the Item Shop
Trivia
- When an item is used against the final boss Golden Diva, instead of Item Shopkeeper leaving the room after the item has been used, she will stay and transform into the Black Cat, which in turn will confront the Golden Diva. The Black Cat will still appear if Wario does not purchase an item, she will just come in later after Wario.
- The Item Shopkeeper's transformation into the Black Cat is the only solid evidence in the game that the two characters are the same being.
